Calculating machine casing



March 31, 1942. F. A. NIEMANN CALCULATING IACHINE CASING Filed Oct. 1. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Much 31, 1942. F. A. NIEMANN CALCULATING IACHINE CASING Filed 001;. 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f6 6X16 (8/7 25 20" BY mam ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 2,278,405 CALCULATING MACHINE CASING Frederick A. Niemann,

Felt & Tarrant Mg. 00.,

poration of Illinois Chicago, 111., assignor tc Chicago, 111., a cor- Application October 1, 1938, Serial No. 232,782

3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to calculating machines, and more particularly to a new and improved casing therefor.

The instant invention is particularly adapted for use with a key-controlled calculating machine, such as those disclosed in the patent to J. A. V. Turck No. 2,063,962, granted December 15, 1936, although it will be readily understood that it may be employed with any desired type of machine. Heretofore, as particularly illustrated in said patent, it has been customary to make the top, bottom and each wall of the casing of a calculating machine as a separate part, and to join the several parts together by means of screws, or the like. This necessitated the drilling and tapping of numerous holes, extensive handling of the several parts, and the use of various jigs and the like in the manufacture and assembly of the casing.

A principal object of the invention, therefore, is the provision of a casing for a calculating machine which is made up of only two parts, a base and a five-walled cover portion, and is thus easy to manufacture and assemble, and reduces the amount of material and the number of operations and tools heretofore necessitated.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a calculating machine casing having a flat portion in which sight apertures are formed, through which the numeral wheels are visible, and which is so angularly disposed relative to the base of the casing as to be perpendicular to the normal line of vision of an operator during operation of the machine.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of a calculating machine casing in which the side walls have longitudinally disposed indentations or recessed portions therein which constitute hand holds to facilitate lifting and moving of the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a casing for a calculating machine in which all fastening means for securing the parts of the casing together and for securing the mechanism of the machine to the base of the casing are completely hidden from view when the machine is in normal or operating position.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a calculating i machine casing embodying the features of my invention:

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the casing of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the casing; and

Fig. 415' a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fi 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral ll indicates in general the casing of a calculating machine which comprises a. hollow cover portion l2 and a base IS. The cover portion I2 is preferably stamped and deepdrawn, by means of suitable dies, from any desired light weight material, and comprises a top wall It, sloping or curved front and rear walls I! and I6, respectively, and side walls ll. These several walls are formed as a unitary structure from a single piece of metal, which results in maximum rigidity of the casing and the elimination of all means for securing the walls together, while greatly enhancing the visual appearance of the casing.

The top wall M of the cover 12 comprises a pair of longitudinally disposed marginal portions l8 bordering a central raised portion IS. The central portion I9 is provided with a substantially rectangular aperture 2| through which the digital control keys of the machine (not shown) are adapted to extend. When the machine is wholly assembled, the cover plate of the key carrying frame (not shown) is positioned directly below the central portion IQ of the top wall of the casing and completely closes the aperture 2|. The right hand marginal portion l8 (viewing Fig. 1) may be provided with a longitudinal slot 22 and a hole 23, through which the canceling or zeroizing lever and the correction key, respectively, (neither of which are shown in the drawings) extend when the machine is completely assembled. It will be noted that the top wall M of the casing slopes downwardly from the rear to the front of the machine (from right to left, viewing Fig. 2), which is done for the purpose of having the keyboard positioned most advantageously for the operator.

The marginal portions l8 of the top wall l4 continue forwardly and rearwardly into the upper curved portions 24 and 25, respectively, of the front and rear walls l5 and I6 (Fig. 2). The rear end of the raised portion [9 of the top wall continues into a curved portion 26 of the rear wall [6, which is spaced outwardly from the curved marginal portions 25 the same distance as obtains between the portions I8 and I9 of the top wall. These curved portions continue in their same spaced relationship into-the vertical cover member If. as well as enhancing the vispartofthe rear wall,sswillbeseeninl'imi,- ualappearance ofthe asingasawhole. with the central panel 20 terminating at its lower Along each of its four sidu and in inwardly end short of the lower ends of the marginal porspaced relationship to the flange l1, the plate tions II (Fig. 2), for a Purpose to be later de- 5 II is provided with a relatively narro shoulder scribed. II which terminates short of the rounded corner The forward end of the central portion is of portions of the flange I1 and is formed as a the top wall ll terminates in a flat portion 21 recess or indentation stamped into-the plate and (Fig. 1) which is preferably disposed at an angle extending upwardly from the plane thereof and of approximately 32 to the horizontal, and conhaving an inverted U-shaped cross section (Fig. tinues in tangential relationship directly into 3). These shoulders II are so positioned that the curved portion 24 of the front wall I! (Fig. the flanges 3| of the cover part I! will rest di- 2). The flat portion 21 is provided with a plurectly thereon and substantially coincide thereraiity of transversely spaced sight apertures 2| with, when the two parts of the casing are in through which a particular numeral on each of their assembled position of the drawings. Suitthe individual numeral wheels (not shown) of able apertures therefore are provided in the top the several denominational orders of the acwalls of the several shoulders 38 so as to coincumulator will be visible when the calculating cide with the apertures in the bottom wall: of machine is completely assembled. The numeral the pockets II. wheel sight apertures 28 are thus disposed in a The vertical flanges 14 are broken away adiaflat surface, which prevents distortion of vision, cent the central portion of each of the pockets Each of the side walls I! of the cover part I: nuts ll have been disposed in the pockets II, to of the casing is provided with a curved marginal prevent the nuts from being displaced upwardly portion 2! which follows the longitudinal cross out of the pockets. The nuts II are provided sectional contour of the front wall I5 and the with suitable inward extensions adjacent their marginal portions II and 25 of the top and rear centers which are substantially the same shape walls, respectively, and is joined thereto by a as the pockets 3! and prevent them from moving curved shoulder portion ii. A longitudinally longitudinally out of the pockets. Thus, with disposed indentation or recessed portion 32 is the cover part I: properly positioned on the base provided in each side wall i1 adjacent the top l3, suitable screws extending through the aperthereof, which is substantially V-shaped in vertures in the shoulders II and screwed into the tical cross section (Fig. 3), and the upper edge nuts ll will securely retain the two parts of the of which is uniformly spaced from the curved 35 casing ii together. shoulder portion 3| so that it follows the contour The plate ll of the base I: is also provided of the top and end walls of the casing. These with a plurality of pwardly extending, circular indentations I2 constitute hand holds at each indentations or projections ll stamped or otherside of the machineto facilitate lifting and movwis f rmed there each of which has a suits h me. as we l as adding materially to the 40 able hole or aperture in the top wall thereof. ppearance thereof. The skeleton frame members of the internal The lower end of each of the front and rear mechanism of t calculating hi t walls II and II and side walls I! terminates in shown) have feet or t b; hi h are adapted t an inwardly or horizontally extending flange or t on these projections 4 and be rigidly ho l ll B 3 Hid which is b pcured thereto by suitable screws extending upwardly at its inner end to Provide a Vertical wardly through the projections, with their heads flange II spaced inwardly from its associated posed in the 1 m ther f wall member. The longitudinal ends of the sevbeing dis own m cm t f f the late II. In eral flanges a. u terminate short of the curved, g g g fij fig gmz the g my vertical corner portions of the cover part if of 5 be secured the base '3 of the casing H, m the casing, as will be seen best in Fig. 4, and the the cover part I: has first been proper, pub latter extend downwardly flush with'the lower uoned over the mechanism with the km surfaces of the flanges II. It will be understood tending upwardly through top wall I ad that the curved corner portions referred to conthe cover plate or the key c i frame 6109 time the mammal mums ing the a rtllle 2| Then the screws may be the side walls 11 and the curved shoulders Ii. inserted gabove dsmbed to the cover At selected points, each of the associated flanges rt n th base H the fl ll. 34 is bent inwardly to provide an enlarged pa 1 r j a casing to the portion or pocket 35. A suitable aperture is pm- A a g a th pate vided in each of the flanges a substantially eenmay pm 10 e t trally disposed relative to each of the pockets as. the with! the The base f the casing H like the cover which suitable resilient pads for supporting the member I2, is formed as a unitary member from machine my be secured in desired anysuitable light weight material, and comprises with the sins constructed as above a substantially rec angular plate a with roundiscubed-11e mountms sheets of suitable Hound ed corners which is bounded on all sides by a deadenm! material the inner mm continuous, upstanding vertical flange 31. The thereof is very reatly facili ed h ng 34 t 31 is preferably corrugated or beaded function to retain the lower ends of vertically dishorizontally, an t r in t i an inwardly posed sheets of the sound deadening material, curved or rounded top edge which is adapted to 1 Suitable fl s 88- 3 d 3) 8! he slidably engage a m; tightly against t outer welded or otherwise secured to the inner surfaces surface of the cover member I! of the casing. of the W ls I. I nd l f r retaining the We The corrugations add to the strength of the ends of said sheets. Since the shoulders II and flange 81 to prevent it being bent out of shape projections Ii and I! are raised above the main and out of the desired close contact with the part oi the plate 8', a space is also provided thereon which may readily be filled with the sound deadening material.

It will be apparent that the calculating machine casing herein disclosed presents a smooth and finished appearance of substantially unbroken or continuous surfaces, and that all fastening means for securing'the two parts of the casing together and for securing the mechanism of the machine to the base of the casing are completely hidden from view when the machine is in normal or operating position. At the same time, the sight apertures for the numeral wheels are in that position which is most easily observable by the machine operator. Since the casing is made in only two parts, the manufacturer and assembly thereof is greatly facilitated, particularly because of the reduction in the amount of material and the number of operations and tools which has thus been effectuated.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A casing for a calculating machine, or the like, comprising a unitary base member having a marginal flange extending upwardly therefrom, shoulder members spaced inwardly from said cover member having inwardly extending flanges formed integrally with the walls thereof and resting upon said shoulders, and means operable from beneath said base member securing said shoulders and said'inwardly extending flanges together, whereby said means are completely concealed from view when said casing is in normal position, the marginal flange of said base member fitting snugly around the lower portion of said cover member.

2. A casing for a calculating machine, or the like, comprising a sheet metal base member having upstanding substantially inverted U-shaped shoulders formed integrally therewith, a unitary, sheet metal, multi-walled cover member having inwardly extending flanges formed at the lower ends of some of the walls thereof, and means confined within an offset portion of said shoulder for rigidly securing said flanges and said shoulders together, thereby rendering the securing means non-visible.

3. A casing for a calculating machine, or the like, comprising a unitary base member having a marginal flange extending upwardly from each edge of the said base member, and an upstanding shoulder formed adjacent each of said flanges, said flanges extending above the level of said shoulders, and a unitary, sheet metal, multi-walled cover member having inwardly extending flanges formed at the lower ends of the walls thereof, said latter flanges coinciding with said shoulders and being rigidly secured thereto, and the vertical walls of said cover member being in contact with the flanges of said base memfiange and above the plane of said base member 35 ber.

and formed integrally therewith, a multi-walled FREDERICK A. NIEMANN. 

